And how that compares to sending a dog or a human into orbit
Posted 10.03.2012 at 2:13 pm
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SpaceHouse
ESA
The folks at the Movoto Real Estate blog are thinking ahead, to when we'll be getting off of this rock and colonizing the universe--by strapping our homes to rockets and launching them into space.
Okay, that may not be how we do it. But still, it's something fun to consider, and there's some real math put into this graphic for "Mission: Space House," as they call it. They picked out a viable rocket (the Falcon Heavy) and figured out an approximate weight-to-square-foot ratio (200 pounds per square foot for a single level). At the end, you can see a brief history of spaceflight costs and how they stack up to the estimated price of you shuttling your pad to space.
Some more findings on this:
- The average house in the U.S. is 2,700 square feet, according to the National Association of Home Builders. If that's a one story, it would run you about $640 million.
- The White House is about 55,000 square feet, with six stories. Counting only three of those stories (the maximum of the graphic), that means a pricetag of more (probably a lot more, with the extra stories) than $18 billion to put into orbit.
- Bill Gates' home is 66,000 square feet. Again, counting with the maximum three stories, that's almost $22 billion.
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The only way this is affordable is if Bill Gates moves into my house and launches THAT into space. Then everyone wins.
Oi, this has been realized and done long ago and was free in the building, sheesh. If they’re going to mention Bill Gates house, then let’s think ‘really big’ and just think Earth already and realize we already in space. Hasn't anyone ever heard of Space Ship Earth as we flies through the cosmos?
Geez, I hope our house doesn’t bump into any dark matter along the way. I just clean the windows.;)
Hold up....average home is 2700 Sq feet that can't be right....can it? My house is a bit over 2000 and its a one story and huge to me atleast. a 2700 sq foot home single level would be crazy huge.....any one confirm these numbers?
Infographics -- from insulting to just silly -- the only one that I found remotely 'scientific' was the energy usage one.
-- and I'd really like to get some idea of the source data, and the rules for how things were assigned to the various categories for that one.
As far as the 2700 sq feet, my wife tells me that these days real estate data lists the total of basement and all other floors. Would seem a poor fit for this calculation -- I seriously doubt that they would blast your foundation into the great beyond.
Did i just read:
Man in space cost 278m
Woman in space cost 2b
Interesting
Cool concept art.
It is interesting observe from the above future modern house, the station wagon vehicle continues on.
Also in the future privacy will be illegal and all new structures must be transparent. Except for the toilet bowl.
Hmmm. No sign of a dog, and that's a dealbreaker. Also, if I were getting a housespaceship I'd definitely want an indoor pool. So someone needs to get to mining Luna already. Then, just like here, location is key. Prime parking is going to really cost. Then, how do I kick my kids out of the house? De-orbit them? My middle schooler gets dropped off by the schoolbus about 90 feet from my front door. That's the standard I'm going by on that. Sleepover costs are likewise gonna really suck. Vacationing would improve for a good while, until population saturation. I suppose, for efficiency; I'd want to classify my home as a commercial dwelling, corporate sole. So I have to find somewhere that's zoned for that. Rent room and board out to my dog who, of course, not having any cash or wallet, continually defaults, allowing me to claim our home a net loss each year. What's Uncle Sam gonna do? Evict my dog? Not even the Supreme Court could do that, because he'd be a critically endangered specie in space.